We left the meeting very disappointed because Netanyahu talked about dismantling Hamas as the goal of the war. He didn’t promise anything regarding the demand to return the hostages. He merely said a military operation in Gaza was needed to serve as leverage for the hostages’ release. We later found out that Hamas had offered on October 9 or 10 to release all the civilian hostages in exchange for the IDF not entering the Strip, but the government rejected the offer.

Haim Rubinstein (Jewish Israeli) ‘No doubt’ Netanyahu preventing hostage deal, charges ex-spokesman of Families Forum The Times of Israel, 2024